Xishuangbanna, a Dai Autonomous Prefecture, is located in the southernmost part of Yunnan Province, China. It is an area with high floristic and cultural diversity. The 13 ethnic groups, including Dai, Hani, Jinuo, Ake, Yao, and Yi, have been settled in this area for more than 1000 years. All native ethnic groups have close relationship with natural forest and thus have developed knowledge systems related to the use and conservation of natural resources. Wild vegetables are traditionally an important resource for ethnic groups' subsistence. 

Over the past years, researchers from Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (XTBG) conducted many wild vegetable cultural studies in Xishuangbanna, by carrying out a series of field investigations, local market investigations, collecting and identifying specimens, and consulting a large amount of literatures.  

A team from the Gardening and Horticulture Center of XTBG has recently published a book entitled Typical Wild Vegetables in Xishuangbanna, Yunnan to present 108 species of wild vegetables in Xishuangbanna.  

The book presents not only the pictures of the wild vegetables, but also the useful information on plants, the botanical name, local name, part consumed, medicinal values, etc.  

The book is compiled by Yan Lichun, Luo Yan, and Shi Jipu, and published by The Commercial Press in 2022.  

Typical wild vegetable in Xishuangbanna. (Image by YAN Lichun) 

Typical wild vegetable in Xishuangbanna. (Image by YAN Lichun) 

Typical wild vegetable in Xishuangbanna. (Image by YAN Lichun)